Antalya province bans forest entry through summer, deploys drones for fire prevention

The Antalya Governorate issued a comprehensive ban on public access to forested areas from early May until the end of October 2026 to curb the risk of wildfires. All entry to forest lands is prohibited, with exceptions for officially designated protected parks, nature reserves, and controlled picnic zones. The ban also forbids the use of grills, candles, fireworks, and other fire‑generating materials, and restricts nighttime campfires in designated areas.

Enforcement is carried out by the local gendarmerie, which conducts patrols supported by 24‑hour drone surveillance. Violators face legal action and fines. In protected forest parks, operators must keep mobile water tanks of at least 2.5 tons or static water reserves of 3 tons ready for firefighting, along with high‑pressure pumps and hoses to reach the farthest points of the area. The measures aim to mitigate fire hazards heightened by rising summer temperatures.